Ways of Writing Bright, Interesting Stories and

WAYS OF
WRITING BRIGHT
AND INTERESTING
SCIENCE NEWS
STORIES
1. UNDERSTAND THE JARGON
• Scientific names and technical terms (sometimes called jargon) are necessary for
scientists. It enables them to speak more accurately to one another about things
they have in common. If a surgeon told his assistant to cut "the big tube" during
an operation, all sorts of mistakes could happen. Instead, the surgeon might talk
about a patient's "aorta" or "vena cava", so that there was no mistake.
• Remember, you are the bridge between the scientists and the readers or
listeners. Where possible, you should explain the jargon in language your
audience will understand.
Ex. Researchers in California say they have found a new way of testing unborn
babies for spina bifida - a deformity of the spine which can cause paralysis.
2. USE CONCRETE WORDS WHERE
POSSIBLE
People understand solid, concrete things which

they can feel, smell, see, touch, taste or hear.
Because much of science is about ideas, where
possible you should explain the scientist's
abstract ideas in concrete words your ordinary
readers or listeners can understand.
2. USE CONCRETE WORDS WHERE POSSIBLE
• For example, instead of describing the strength of a new

sewing thread in scientific terms saying that it will resist a
force of so many kilograms - you might write a story
telling the same facts, but in concrete terms.
Example:
Scientists in China have invented a sewing thread so strong
that it could take the weight of a fully-grown elephant.
• Similarly, when reporting sizes - specially the very large or
very small - translate them into terms which your ordinary
readers and listeners can understand. For example:
Breeders in Papua New Guinea have produced a new breed

of super pig which can weigh up to 750 kg - about the
weight of a small car.
3. DO NOT OVERLOAD WITH FIGURES
• For example, 19,750 kilometers becomes

"almost 20,000 kilometers". This is especially
important in radio, where listeners do not
have time to grasp complicated numbers.
4. WRITE BRIGHTLY
• Your audience will not like long boring explanations . Keep your words clear and
simple.
• Do not use too many scientific terms and explain them in simple words.
• Keep your sentences short and simple.
• Try to limit the important ideas to one (or two at the most) per sentence.
• Do not, however, mistake shallow writing for bright writing.
• Also, do not make jokes about scientific developments unless they are recognized
as humorous.
RIGHT: WRONG:
Pig farmers on New Ireland are Farmers on New Ireland are battling a
battling an insect plague which has plague of the new insect species
already killed more than 500 pigs on penetrens lugoles which is related to
the island. the horse fly and has devastated large
herds of pigs in Africa and South East
The insect, which is related to the Asia and already killed 527 pigs on the
horse fly, has already devastated island by laying eggs in their ears
herds in Africa and South East Asia. which eventually hatch into maggots
which burrow their way into the
The new species called penetrens animal's brain in search of food.
lugoles lays its eggs in pigs' ears.
When the eggs hatch, the maggots
burrow into the animal's brain in
search of food.
5. DO NOT SENSATIONALIZE
• NEVER sensationalize a story. State the facts in a clear, simple and interesting
way. It is a great challenge to write a medical story without using words like
"miracle cure", but it can be done - and it is more rewarding than the easy lie.
• Example:
• Scientists researching a new drug will seldom claim that they have found a cure
for a certain disease. They are more likely to say it is "a step towards a cure" or
"a possible way of preventing the disease" or even "a way of reducing the
symptoms". They do not want to raise false hopes. If you then write that
"scientists have found a cure for cancer", it will raise the hopes of everyone with
the disease and all their relatives. When they discover that they themselves
cannot be cured, they will feel even worse than before your story.
6. GIVE BACKGROUND DETAILS
• You need to give background details in most stories, because they help your readers or listeners to
understand what has happened and how important (or disappointing) the latest development is.
• They should be kept as short as possible because your audience is mainly interested in the latest
news, not in history.
Ex:
In a story about an AIDS drug, explain what scientists know about the disease and how many people
it has so far killed, especially in your country or region.
When reporting the results of a study into water cleanliness, give some of the history of the project.
7. ILLUSTRATE YOUR STORY
• Try to provide illustrations which will bring your story alive.

• Any captions must explain the picture, but they do not have to explain the whole of the thing you are
describing.
• Diagrams should be simple and well-drawn
• If you use picture or diagrams offered by other people or take from books make that you have
permission.
• For example, you might use a picture of a new coffee drying machine. Your caption can give some
details about the machine, but save your explanations of how it works for the story itself. (In
television, your explanation can be illustrated by film of the different parts of the machine in action).
TO SUMMARISE:
• You must understand the basic principles of any scientific field

before you can report in it; you can get that understanding by:
• Having a basic scientific education
• Reading books and magazines about science and technology
• Taking an interest in scientific and technological developments
• Establishing good contacts with experts who can help you with
information
Always try to write your stories with a human angle; remember the people who make the
developments and the people who will use them
• Never write a story until you understand all the information you will need to use
• Do not take sides in scientific controversies - just report the arguments
• Avoid jargon
• Use concrete images to explain abstract ideas
• Write brightly and simply
• Do not sensationalize
• Think of the best ways of illustrating any story
• https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/discovering-science-science-writi
ng
• https://thenewsmanual.net/Manuals%20Volume%202/volume2_32.htm

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WAYS OF

People understand solid, concrete things which

• For example, instead of describing the strength of a new

Breeders in Papua New Guinea have produced a new breed

• For example, 19,750 kilometers becomes

• Try to provide illustrations which will bring your story alive.

• You must understand the basic principles of any scientific field

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